The Harvard women’s basketball team has problems—twelve, in fact.

No, it is not fraught with a dozen injuries. Strangely enough, the squad just might have the enviable dilemma of too many good players. At least that is the predicament facing Crimson coach Kathy Delaney-Smith.

“My challenge is going to be choosing a starting team and making sure everyone gets playing time,” Delaney-Smith said. “Everyone’s contributing. There isn’t a player I wouldn’t want in a game.”

Harvard (22-6, 13-1 Ivy in 2001-02) is coming off an Ivy League championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. But more importantly, the team returns two of the top scorers in the league, junior Hana Pejlto and sophomore Reka Cserny.

The Crimson’s high hopes rest on the tall shoulders of these two All-Ivy selections. In her sophomore season, Pejlto was unanimously voted Ivy League Player of the Year, after leading the team in scoring (20.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.5 rebounds per game). She was also one of five players chosen to the Verizon Academic All-District team.

Peljto’s scoring average is third-highest in school history, behind only the WNBA’s Allison Feaster ’98 (28.5 ppg in 1997-98, 21.6 ppg in 1996-97). Although Pejlto has hardwood accolades aplenty, an offseason spent filling the holes in her game has already created marked improvement for the star forward.

“Hana could become a better passer,” Delaney-Smith said. “She’s creating [offense]—because she gets double- and triple-teams all the time—for teammates who are good shooters.”

Delaney-Smith sees Peljto as a cut above her Ivy-League counterparts.

“Her body’s just bigger, stronger, and better,” she said.

Cserny, Peljto’s partner-in-crime, will also carry much of the scoring burden. Last year, the Hungarian-born Cserny garnered First Team Ivy honors and the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award. Cserny didn’t have lingering trouble adjusting to collegiate basketball as she led the Ivies in field goal percentage (51.2 percent) and free-throw percentage (85.4 percent).

Sidelined by an ankle injury for two games last season, the ailment has reared its ugly head again in the preseason this year. However, Cserny started practicing last week and is not expected to miss any games, which is good news for Delaney-Smith, who describes Cserny’s game as “magnificent.”

“You can’t describe what Reka does—no one teachers her any of those things,” Delaney-Smith said.

But Peljto and Cserny will need help if the Crimson is to realize its lofty goals of an Ivy crown and NCAA glory. And that’s where the other 10 tremendously talented “problems” come in.

Half of the supporting cast is composed of freshmen. But these players aren’t the kind to be content with warming the bench or waiting until next year to make their marks on the court.

“This is one of the great freshman classes,” Delaney-Smith said. “Coming in here and learning so quickly and fitting in so quickly—it has amazed the entire coaching staff.”